Assessing the development and implementation of physical activity action plans at the prefectural level in Japan: a quantitative study

Abstract

Objective: This study’s aim was to examine the development and implementation of a physical activity action plan at the prefectural level in Japan.

Methods: We developed a Local Policy Audit Tool (L-PAT), which consists of 11 items based on the HEPA PAT (Health-Enhancing Physical Activity Policy Audit Tool), covering key policy actions including: presence of local action plan; cooperation between sectors; and implementation. The study was conducted from August 2015 to March 2016. L-PAT was sent to local government representatives in key sectors (health, sports, education, urban planning, transport, and environment) in all 47 prefectures. The sample comprised 282 respondents.

Results: Out of 282 surveys sent out, there were 202 responses (response rate=71.6%). Reports of local action plans and the rates of implementation were higher from health (100%, 93.6%, respectively) and sports (97.6%, 100%, respectively) departments and much lower from other departments. Reports of local plans were moderately developed in urban planning (55%) and transport (30%) departments, which were concerned with the built environment, but rates of implementation were low (13.6%, 22.2%, respectively). Cooperation between the departments was most frequently reported among the health, sports, and education departments, and least frequently reported between all other departments.

Conclusion: The present results indicated that the health and sports departments are the most active in both the development and implementation of the HEPA policy at the prefectural level. Some prefectures reported local actions by the urban planning and transport departments that improved HEPA. Future qualitative studies that identify the details of action plans and the effects of the actions are needed.